Why Good People in the Church Look Away: Abuse, Power and Protecting the Mission

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.

Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders.

He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.

He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act.

This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.

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💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystone

Chapters:

00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?

01:15 Trailer and intro

02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers

10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality

13:17 Principles of Living and Values

18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community

20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation

31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts

38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse

43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures

51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy

56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and Presence

Keywords:

Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4